Essential values for effective communication - Empathy - A helper must communicate an ability to see and feel from the affected person's point of view. This usually includes a quality of personal warmth, as opposed to someone who is aloof, mechanical, or all business.
- Respect - A helper must communicate sincere respect for the dignity and worth of the affected persons.
- Genuineness - This is about more than factual honesty or sincerity. In working with people who may find it difficult to trust others, the helper must be a very genuine person who can earn trust under difficult conditions. This means saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Anything less can lead to a sense of betrayal.
- Positive regard - A helper must demonstrate a sincere regard for the welfare and worthiness of the affected person. Such people may struggle with a sense of being unworthy and flawed. The helper's positive regard for them is often the seed of a renewed sense of self-esteem.
- Non-judgemental stance - People are often concerned that they will be judged by others to be at fault for the crises that befall them. A good helper can relieve this tension by carefully avoiding judging the affected persons. Otherwise, empathy, respect, and positive regard may be undermined.
- Empowering - A helper is temporarily in the affected person's life. Therefore, it is crucial that you leave the person feeling more resilient and resourceful than when you met him/her.
- Practical - Being practical about what can and cannot be accomplished for a person in crisis is necessary, if we are to succeed in leaving behind a strengthened and functionally whole person even after support is withdrawn.
- Confidentiality - This refers to the helper's duty to keep private those things that are shared by a client. However, certain information must be shared when the good of doing so outweighs the bad. Information, such as knowledge about child abuse, requires socially responsible action by the helper to protect others, and should lead to the helper disclosing the information.
- Ethical conduct - Ethical codes of conduct vary from context to context. They also, however, have certain principles in common:
- Do no harm
- Be trustworthy and follow through on your words with appropriate deeds
- Never exploit your relationship
- Respect a person's right to make his/her own decisions
- Never exaggerate your skills or competence
- Be aware of your own biases and prejudices.
| Source: IFRC In the Community-based Psychological Support Training Manual of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (2002), a number of values are described that are part of the most effective communication.  IFRC training manual, Tool for programme analysis and programme development >>>read more  Publication: Community-based psychological support - Best practices |